From public pools and beaches to waterparks like Six Flags Hurricane Harbor in Concord (pictured), swimming spots in the Bay Area are plentiful all summer. (Paul Chinn/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
Warmer Bay Area weather has finally arrived, and there are few better ways to enjoy the summer to its fullest than by going for a dip outdoors.
Luckily, the Bay Area offers an abundance of places to take advantage of the heat, whether it’s getting laps in at a local open-air pool, wading at nearby lakes and rivers or diving into the San Francisco Bay itself. Keep reading our round-up of idyllic Bay Area outdoor swimming spots, as recommended by local experts.
Remember to prioritize safety when swimming, and consider bringing along a wetsuit and a flotation device to ensure you stay safe and warm – especially in waters like the Bay.
This small strip of sandy beach is just a short walk from the ferry dock, with waters that are fairly protected from strong bay currents and an expansive grassy picnic area equipped with tables and barbecues.Bathrooms and the Angel Island Café, which has a full menu of meals and drinks, are also on hand.
If you’re worried about swimming in the Bay, be reassured that it’s generally safe – plus, it’s free. Nonetheless, no lifeguards are on duty here, and Angel Island State Park Interpreter Casey Dexter-Lee cautioned swimmers to remember they’ll be sharing this cold water with boats, which will frequently dock here for the day or drop anchor for sailors to take a dip. Swimmers should also be vigilant for currents, which can pick up quickly here.
Pro tip: If you’re looking for a little more adventure, Dexter-Lee suggested hiking a couple of miles from the cove to Quarry Beach or Perles Beach, both of which offer spectacular south-facing views of the city. Be warned that the swimming on the south side is a little more exposed to wind and currents – and “make sure to save a little energy for the hike back,” Dexter-Lee said.
Cost: Ferry tickets from San Francisco cost $15.50 each way ($9.50 with Clipper card), which also covers the park entrance fee. Youth and seniors pay $8 per ticket from San Francisco. From Tiburon, ferry tickets cost $18 for the round trip for adults, with discounts for kids and seniors.
A view of the pier at China Camp State Park in 2009. (Brian Baer/California State Parks)
China Camp and McNears Beach, San Rafael
On the shores of San Pablo Bay are two adjacent outdoor swimming spots: China Camp State Park and McNears Beach Park, the first a state park and the second managed by Marin County Parks. Each offers a sandy shoreline ideal for swimmers plus convenient park facilities like bathrooms, barbecues and group picnic areas.
If more protected swimming is your goal, McNears Beach Park also offers a swimming pool that’s typically open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. According to Marin County Park and Open Space Superintendent Ari Golan, the county hopes to open the pool on May 24 this year.
One challenge of this spot: Since it’s one of the few free parks and pools in the area, weekends can get crowded with limited parking and lines to enter. If you can, Golan recommends visiting Tuesday through Thursday instead for the best experience (the pool is closed on Mondays) – or as he puts it, “more pool and less people.”
If you’re specifically looking to swim out into the bay, a popular place to enter the water is at China Camp, just to the north of McNears. The Friends of China Camp, the local nonprofit that runs events and manages picnic and camping reservations at the state park, suggest checking wind directions and tide charts before you head out – there’s nothing worse than rolling up, ready to dive in, when all you see is mud, said China Camp park manager Chris Young. This preparation will also help swimmers plan for tidal currents and aim for “slack tides,” when the tide is going neither in nor out.
Young also suggested wearing tight-fitting shoes in the water to protect your feet from sharp rocks.
Pro tip: While you’re at China Camp beach, visit the museum at China Camp Village that recounts the history of the site, which housed around 500 Chinese shrimp fishers in the 1880s.
Cost: China Camp costs $5 for parking and entry or $3 without parking. McNears Beach Park has no entry fee.
Crown Beach, Alameda
The water is shallow and warm. The currents aren’t very strong. The city views are unbeatable. What more could you want?
Pro tip: Consider visiting Crown Beach in the morning, as the wind tends to pick up most afternoons, making those hours more ideal for kite and windsurfing than swimming. The East Bay Regional Parks District also publishes water quality reports on its website, so you can confirm that the beach is open and swimming conditions are safe before you head out.
Cost: Free to enter the beach, parking is $5.
Olivia Noceda), center, and Jessica Lazarus prepare for a swim at Aquatic Park Cove on August 26, 2024 in San Francisco, California. (Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images)
Aquatic Park, San Francisco
A favorite spot of KQED’s own Bianca Taylor, host and producer of The Latest podcast, is right in front of Ghirardelli Square at San Francisco’s Aquatic Park. There, you can lay a towel out on the bleachers and swim to the buoys that line the shore.
Yes, the water is cold, with lows of 49 degrees in winter and highs of 65 in late summer. It’s also murky – even with goggles, be prepared to see nothing – and comes with the usual risks of swimming in the wild. (Yes, seal bites are a thing.)
Pro tip: Leave any valuables at home, as the area is known for car break-ins. After your swim, Taylor recommends heading to Cafe de Casa at Fisherman’s Wharf to warm up with a coffee and Brazilian pastry.
Cost: There is no cost to swim in the water at Aquatic Park, but parking close by will be metered – so you can save a few bucks by biking or taking transit to the park.
Kayaks await their passengers at Heart’s Desire Beach in Tomales Bay State Park in 2021. (Brian Baer/California State Parks)
Heart’s Desire Beach, Point Reyes
Just a short drive from the entrance to the Tomales Bay State Park in Point Reyes National Seashore is Heart’s Desire Beach, an oasis on the shores of shallow Tomales Bay – which tends to be quite a bit warmer than the deeper waters of the San Francisco Bay.
The beach is peaceful enough to enjoy by itself, with picnic tables and barbecues available for use. But if you’re looking for a little more adventure, the shoreline is riddled with small, hidden beaches and rocky coves that are close enough to swim out to. While you’re enjoying the beach, make sure to keep your eyes peeled overhead for bald eagles, which nest nearby.
Yes, there are sometimes leopard sharks and blue jellyfish-like creatures in these waters. And no, they generally won’t hurt you.
Pro tip: Blue Waters Kayaking operates kayak and stand-up paddle board rentals on the shores of Heart’s Desire beach itself. Get a reservation in advance for busy weekends or try for a walk-up rental during quieter times. They also have a location in Point Reyes Station and offer drop-off rentals if you’d prefer to launch from a different location.
Cost: $8 per vehicle for the park entrance fee.
Bay Area public outdoor swimming pools
A woman prepares to lap swim at Golden Bear Rec Center Pool at UC Berkeley. (UC Berkeley)
Strawberry Canyon Pool and Golden Bear Pool, UC Berkeley
UC Berkeley’s campus houses four pools, two of which are available to the public.
Nestled above campus in the hillside, the Z-shaped Strawberry Canyon Pool is the best family-friendly option, with just three lanes dedicated to lap swimming and the rest of the pool open for anyone to splash around and escape the heat. The pool is open seasonally from the end of May to mid-October. There are locker rooms, showers, kickboards and wheelchair access to both the pool and its amenities.
Pro tip: Since Cal students will be your competition for these pools, bear their schedules in mind when planning your visit. Weekdays during the mid-morning or early afternoon, when classes are most likely to be in session, could offer you the best shot at an uncrowded pool.
Cost: Day passes cost $15 per person.
Castle Rock Pool Complex, Walnut Creek
At the foot of Mt. Diablo is Castle Rock Regional Recreation Area, which features a serene swimming pool that allows visitors to take full advantage of the East Bay’s natural beauty.
Surrounded by oak woodlands below Pine Canyon’s famous rock formations, Castle Rock Pool Complex is open on weekends from mid-May to mid-September and also on Thursdays and Fridays during the height of summer.
Pro tip: The pool is a full 10-minute walk from the parking lot, and once the swimming facility’s capacity is reached, no new entries are permitted that day – so get there early on hot, busy weekends.
Cost: $5 for adults, $3 for youth and seniors and free for kids under 2.
Mission Pool, San Francisco
The only outdoor city-operated pool in San Francisco is Mission Pool, located on 19th Street in the sunny Mission District. The pool opens this year on May 10.
Just a block from Dolores Park, this is a prime spot for a swim when even the city is sweltering. Plus, it’s easily accessible via BART and Muni with lots of local businesses and food options nearby.
Pro tip: If you’re in the mood for something sweet before or after your swim, the famed Bi-Rite Creamery is a short two blocks away, offering seasonal and classic ice-cream flavors plus frozen treats like ice cream sandwiches and popsicles. The Creamery opened almost 20 years ago, while the historic Bi-Rite Market down the street dates from 1940.
Cost: $6 for adults and $1 for kids.
Burlingame Aquatics Center, Burlingame
The Peninsula offers what KQED’s Taylor calls “one of the nicest outdoor pools I have ever swum in.” At Burlingame Aquatics Center, there are tons of lanes for masters (18+) swimming, recreational swimming and an aqua aerobics class.
Check the schedule before you go, as the open swim hours are subject to change since the pool is often used for Burlingame High School classes, and may require lane reservations.
Pro tip: A short walk from the Burlingame Caltrain stop, this pool is easily transit accessible.
Cost: The $9 entry fee includes access to a locker room. Ages 3 and under swim for free.
Bay Area News Group reporter Marisa Kendall is photographed at the Temescal swimming pool on Sunday, March 26, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group via Getty Images)
Temescal Pool, Oakland
If you want to swim for exercise, Taylor recommends Temescal Pool as a good outdoors spot for lap swimming (just check the schedule for those lap hours). There’s also a large pool deck here, plus grassy areas for a post-swim lay out. The East Bay sunshine can be strong, so don’t forget to wear sunscreen.
Pro tip: This pool is actually 33 ⅓ yards long, as opposed to the traditional 25 yards, pushing swimmers to go those extra few strokes.
Cost: Entry is $6 for lap swimming and $3 for recreational swimming.
Bay Area rivers and lakes you can swim in
Folks cool off as they play in Lake del Valle at Del Valle Regional Park in Livermore, Calif., on Saturday, July 13, 2019. (Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
But there is one reservoir where you can happily (and legally) splash away: Lake Del Valle in Livermore. Part of the State Water Project, a statewide system of drinking water storage and supply, this spot is exempted from the rule banning swimming in most Bay Area reservoirs.
Del Valle Regional Park has two swimming areas that are monitored by lifeguards on the east and west sides of the lake.
Pro tip: Swimming is far from Del Valle’s only attraction. The rest of the five-mile-long lake offers all sorts of water recreation and fishing, not to mention the nearly 4,500 acres open to hiking and horseback riding.
Sheltered from the wind and up away from the fog, these swim areas may especially appeal to San Franciscans for whom the city summers aren’t quite feeling hot enough. Both Lake Temescal and Lake Anza have full beach amenities like refreshment stands, changing rooms and showers.
Pro tip: Both lakes are tested weekly for bacteria levels, but if you’re still If worried, pay a visit in the late spring or early summer, before the heat of the summer produces algae blooms that can sometimes close these waters.
Cost: Entry is $5 to enter and $3 for seniors and kids, while infants under 2 enter for free.
Don Castro and Cull Canyon, Castro Valley
If you’re looking for a safe spot for kids to get used to the water, these two shallow swim spots in the Castro Valley might fit the bill.
Combining the natural beauty of a lagoon with the safety features of a pool, both Don Castro and Cull Canyon have large, sandy beaches, extensive lawns and shallow chlorinated water for swimmers of any age and ability to safely enjoy a summer’s day. The two lagoons are also monitored by lifeguards and feature full pool amenities like bathhouses and vending machines.
Both spots open first on weekends only in the spring and then every day during peak summer months.
Pro tip: Although barbecues and picnic tables are aplenty for you to settle in for a full day in the sun, no alcohol is allowed at either spot.
Cost: Both spots charge $5 for adults and $3 for youth and seniors, but kids under 2 swim for free.
A boy dons a life jacket and prepares for a swim at Steelhead Beach Regional Park on the Russian River. (Sonoma County Regional Parks)
Russian River, Sonoma County
Many Bay Area residents looking to cool off head to the Russian River, where water – and access to the shore – is plentiful. Try the protected Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach or Cloverdale River Park for superior wildlife viewing. Monte Rio Beach, meanwhile, is a favorite for family beach days, with boat rentals and volleyball courts onsite.
While the Russian River is usually pristine and calm, swimming in any river isn’t entirely without risk. That’s why Greg Desmond, aquatics and recreation supervisor for Sonoma County Regional Parks, particularly recommends Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach, where a dam creates an area deep enough to swim but lifeguards are also on duty. And from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the county deploys a river patrol to help people floating the river or enjoying the beach with life jackets and safety tips.
“We don’t want people to be afraid of the water, but just take the necessary precautions,” Desmond said. “If you’re not a strong swimmer, try to stay out of the deep end.”
Pro tip: At Healdsburg and nearby beaches Del Rio Woods, Steelhead Beach, Forestville River Access and Sunset Beach, the county parks department provides free life vests for visitors to borrow all day. “It’s sort of like a library for life jackets,” Desmond said.
Cost: Parking at Sonoma County Regional Parks is $10 in the summer and $7 the rest of the year. Monte Rio Beach has no entry fee.
… and don’t forget Bay Area waterparks
Kids of all ages seek relief from the sweltering heat at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor waterpark in Concord, Calif. on Saturday, July 27, 2019. (Paul Chinn/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
If you’re comfortable with a somewhat more noisy and crowded – and costly – outdoor aquatic experience, the Bay Area offers several popular waterparks:
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, Concord
The biggest water park in the Bay Area, with a lazy river for those seeking a more relaxed experience.
Cost: Online tickets cost $34 per person, which rises to $70 at the gate. Kids under 3 enter for free.
Aqua Adventure Water Park, Fremont
Best for young kids, this spot tends to be less busy and a more relaxed environment.
Cost: $27 for adults ($25 for Fremont residents), $22 for kids. Discounts for seniors, military, large groups and kids under 3.
Antioch Water Park, Antioch
Ideal for families, this Contra Costa water park offers lots of space for spreading out and picnicking all day long.
Cost: $17 on weekends, $15 on weekdays, with discounts for seniors, military and large groups.
South Bay Shores at California’s Great America, Santa Clara
Pro: A full range of water slide heights and speeds. Con: Lines can get long.
Cost: Tickets, which include admission to the full amusement park, are $42 online but $70 at the gate, with military and first responder discounts.
Golfland Sunsplash, Roseville
Further afield northeast of Sacramento, Golfland Sunsplash has intense slides, a killer wave pool and night slide admission after 5 p.m.
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Cost: $63 on weekends for adults and $53 for kids, plus discounts on weekdays and for toddlers.
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